What Are Your Thoughts On "The Gift of Music?"

[bosk1]

  <-milk

[jsbru]

Is the song grammy worthy?  If not there is probably a boat load of others that could be released.

It's not the type of composition that's going to win grammys.  DT deserves to be nominated, and I think OTBOA probably deserved to win.  But in order to win, I think you need more of a combination of prog/pop.  I don't want DT to go commercial or anything, but I don't think it would kill them to write one still pretty proggy song with a couple of addicting hooks and melody lines. 

There is one song in particular that I have heard that is perhaps the biggest ear worm DT have ever written.  Once it got inside my head, it would not let go, and I found myself involuntarily humming/singing it nonstop.  Major hooks in that one.  Not saying it is a grammy winner, because you never know--so much of that is also just luck.  But it definitely has the addicting hooks and melody that you mention.

I was just about to reply that I wouldn't rule something like that out elsewhere on this album, given David Campbell's presence.  I can't wait.

[nicmos]

A little Epicloud vibe with the choir section.

Anyway, much much better than The Enemy Inside.

Sounds great for 4 minutes out of a 120-minute double album.  Has the proggy elements but they don't dominate the song.  Even at the end the melody isn't totally sacrificed.

[Nomaniac]

Is the song grammy worthy?  If not there is probably a boat load of others that could be released.

It's not the type of composition that's going to win grammys.  DT deserves to be nominated, and I think OTBOA probably deserved to win.  But in order to win, I think you need more of a combination of prog/pop.  I don't want DT to go commercial or anything, but I don't think it would kill them to write one still pretty proggy song with a couple of addicting hooks and melody lines. 

There is one song in particular that I have heard that is perhaps the biggest ear worm DT have ever written.  Once it got inside my head, it would not let go, and I found myself involuntarily humming/singing it nonstop.  Major hooks in that one.  Not saying it is a grammy winner, because you never know--so much of that is also just luck.  But it definitely has the addicting hooks and melody that you mention.

That tease is the equivalent of a girl taking one breast out and telling me the milk is in the other one.

That is one strange metaphor, but . . . yeah

[ResultsMayVary]

Is the song grammy worthy?  If not there is probably a boat load of others that could be released.

It's not the type of composition that's going to win grammys.  DT deserves to be nominated, and I think OTBOA probably deserved to win.  But in order to win, I think you need more of a combination of prog/pop.  I don't want DT to go commercial or anything, but I don't think it would kill them to write one still pretty proggy song with a couple of addicting hooks and melody lines. 

There is one song in particular that I have heard that is perhaps the biggest ear worm DT have ever written.  Once it got inside my head, it would not let go, and I found myself involuntarily humming/singing it nonstop.  Major hooks in that one.  Not saying it is a grammy winner, because you never know--so much of that is also just luck.  But it definitely has the addicting hooks and melody that you mention.

OH, COME ON! 

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Is the song grammy worthy?  If not there is probably a boat load of others that could be released.

It's not the type of composition that's going to win grammys.  DT deserves to be nominated, and I think OTBOA probably deserved to win.  But in order to win, I think you need more of a combination of prog/pop.  I don't want DT to go commercial or anything, but I don't think it would kill them to write one still pretty proggy song with a couple of addicting hooks and melody lines. 

There is one song in particular that I have heard that is perhaps the biggest ear worm DT have ever written.  Once it got inside my head, it would not let go, and I found myself involuntarily humming/singing it nonstop.  Major hooks in that one.  Not saying it is a grammy winner, because you never know--so much of that is also just luck.  But it definitely has the addicting hooks and melody that you mention.

That tease is the equivalent of a girl taking one breast out and telling me the milk is in the other one.

[noxon]

Realistically - the grammys is a popularity contest, and you'll only win if you're the most popular kid in school...

[Nomaniac]

Yep . . . wish that DT had a grammy to their name, but in reality it doesn't really matter - they don't mean anything.

[matthewmatt]

That tease is the equivalent of a girl taking one breast out and telling me the milk is in the other one.

What did I just read? 

[jsbru]

Realistically - the grammys is a popularity contest, and you'll only win if you're the most popular kid in school...

Well, I was a huge nerd in 8th grade until I got two friends and my brother to play a Metallica song live for the talent show--which normally consisted of 2nd graders doing rudimentary dance routines to Disney songs, and 5th graders trying to break a board with karate.

Being suddenly popular isn't all that bad.

[jsbru]

BTW, this is all on VHS, and I was planning on getting it transferred to digital format over Christmas so I can post it on youtube.

It's hilarious.  I'll post a link here if I can get this done.  It was over 20 years ago though.

[Nomaniac]

That's cool! Yeah link us when you've got it up

[Architeuthis]

Wow. I'm definitely intrigued after listening to this. I LOVE the second half of the song. That riff toward the end reminded me of Opeth a little bit. It's not a typical single, but we have to remember this is just a cog in the wheel of what is The Astonishing. The lyrics really grabbed me too. I'm dying to see where this concept goes. Thank you, DT!

I also want to add that these lyrics are classic Petrucci. What a wonderful writer he is.  He set up the story so well with this track, in my opinion.

And that choir! Damn! Does it get any better than that?

EDIT: Upon further listens, I think Dream Theater is giving us a concept album about a futuristic world without music. I'm also venturing that Nomacs are possibly music-detecting devices? If someone in the Northern Empire is playing music instead of being a productive member of society, it can detect it. I'm just speculating.

I wonder if the priests of the Temples of Syrinx are controlling the Nomacs? This album seems it may be inspired by 2112 a bit. That's a good thing! 

[nicmos]

This album seems it may be inspired by 2112 a bit.

No shit, do you think? 

I agree Architeuthis, I think it is a good thing.

[Architeuthis]

Maybe we'll be astonished if at the very end of the album we hear,, WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL , said 3x.  I think it will have a more positive outcome.

[Nomaniac]

Oh man that would be great if that happened

Yeah I think DT purposely made it a bit similar to Rush's concept as a tribute to them, just like they do with certain music passages

I wonder if there are any direct hints to 2112 in the lyrics?

[erwinrafael]

Finally listened to the song with my in-ear phones which I left at home. 

[ori.elias5]

I decided not to listen to any pre released material.

Same here.

I will also take a break from the forum as i don't want to get the spoilers..  the best way to enjoy it without being biased.

[Nomaniac]

Finally listened to the song with my in-ear phones which I left at home. 

I'm assuming you were blown away, right? I certainly was!

[Nomaniac]

I decided not to listen to any pre released material.

Same here.

I will also take a break from the forum as i don't want to get the spoilers..  the best way to enjoy it without being biased.

Awesome guys! Keep up the dedication!!!

[TAC]

I think if I were given 4 minutes to explain what Dream theater was about, I'd play The Gift Of Music.

[Kotowboy]

This album seems it may be inspired by 2112 a bit.

No shit, do you think? 

I agree Architeuthis, I think it is a good thing.

It's nearly 2112

In fact it's 2014

[jammindude]

I've heard the song a couple of times now, but I haven't read all the way through this thread.

It's really good, and it does whet my appetite to hear the song more in context, but does anyone else think that it doesn't feel....done?   Like it's not a whole song?   In the context of the album, this could actually be a good thing, but as a single it feels weird.   Like the song just ends without finishing.     It would be like if About to Crash was released as a single.   Ever heard AtC as a stand-alone track?   It doesn't really work because of the way it ends.   This new track reminds me of that. 

[Nomaniac]

Yeah it does have that sort of feeling like there's something more to come . . . if they had added a third verse and chorus it would have made more sense as a stand-alone song (I think someone brought that up actually) but it looks like that's not what they're going for . . . and apparently from what Bosk said they don't consider this a single but more of a "snippet." So I think of it more like a trailer is to a movie, and that feeling was put there on purpose to keep you wanting more. Just my theory

[Ben_Jamin]

TGoM shouldnt be seen as a single, more a snippet. It's like when actors go on late night talk shows and they show a scene. Which this song is good and leaves you wanting to hear the rest, it does its job.

[Madman Shepherd]

It's interesting to note that about 75% of people here have either a positive or very positive view of this song according to the poll. 

[Ħ]

I dunno, I don't really like it. Maybe I'll need to hear it in the context of the album.

[Nel_Annette]

I already love it more than anything I heard on the s/t, so that's a good sign. Fun track.

[IDontNotDoThings]

Is the song grammy worthy?  If not there is probably a boat load of others that could be released.

It's not the type of composition that's going to win grammys.  DT deserves to be nominated, and I think OTBOA probably deserved to win.  But in order to win, I think you need more of a combination of prog/pop.  I don't want DT to go commercial or anything, but I don't think it would kill them to write one still pretty proggy song with a couple of addicting hooks and melody lines. 

There is one song in particular that I have heard that is perhaps the biggest ear worm DT have ever written.  Once it got inside my head, it would not let go, and I found myself involuntarily humming/singing it nonstop.  Major hooks in that one.  Not saying it is a grammy winner, because you never know--so much of that is also just luck.  But it definitely has the addicting hooks and melody that you mention.

If anyone's seen bosk irl recently, pay attention to if he's humming something. That may be our key! 

[IDontNotDoThings]

Realistically - the grammys is a popularity contest, and you'll only win if you're the most popular kid in school...

Well, I was a huge nerd in 8th grade until I got two friends and my brother to play a Metallica song live for the talent show--which normally consisted of 2nd graders doing rudimentary dance routines to Disney songs, and 5th graders trying to break a board with karate.

Being suddenly popular isn't all that bad.

What song?

[jsbru]

That's cool! Yeah link us when you've got it up

It was at a Catholic school, so some of the more strict teachers that didn't know about it before got really mad because they thought it was satanic or something.  One walked out during the show.  Luckily the ones putting it on were a lot cooler...it was Wherever I May Roam.  They just asked to see the lyrics, and deemed them to be fine.

[jsbru]

I've heard the song a couple of times now, but I haven't read all the way through this thread.

It's really good, and it does whet my appetite to hear the song more in context, but does anyone else think that it doesn't feel....done?   Like it's not a whole song?   In the context of the album, this could actually be a good thing, but as a single it feels weird.   Like the song just ends without finishing.     It would be like if About to Crash was released as a single.   Ever heard AtC as a stand-alone track?   It doesn't really work because of the way it ends.   This new track reminds me of that.

That's one of the reasons why I didn't rate it higher.  I guess it's not fair to do that knowing it's just a snippet of a concept album.  But all I have now is the track standing alone, so it is what it is.  I also agree with the poster above that, given 4 minutes to explain what DT was about, this is a good example.  But that sort of makes it a bit uninspiring for those who already know what DT was about.  It's about exactly what you would expect out of your average DT song, except shorter.  IOW, I like it, but it's nothing special so far.  Not really anything new about the sound.  The choir is somewhat unique, but they've had mini-choirs before.  The dirty distorted organ is somewhat fresh compared to the sounds they typically have used in the last 15 years.

I'm more inspired by the fact that the Rolling Stone article told me David Campbell was hired to help write/produce the album.  That alone has raised my hopes for this album more than this new track (which again isn't bad at all, but I think it's just average by DT's already high standards).

[YtseJamittaja]

I predict (or hope) that they will use TGOM chorus in the other songs as well. Or at least I hope, it would be a waste of great chorus used only once at the album.

[lumpy33]

i think the new track is fantastic, vintage dream theater.  the constant time signature shifts are always my favorite part about them, and this tune doesn't disappoint.  i didn't think i could be this excited for anything other than the new star wars movie, but i'm really looking forward to the new album now.

[Train of Naught]

I predict (or hope) that they will use TGOM chorus in the other songs as well. Or at least I hope, it would be a waste of great chorus used only once at the album.

I actually think that main riff during the verses sounds a lot like the recurring SFAM theme one starting out as the Overture 1928 main riff, maybe that's a returning theme in the album aswell.